Grand Central Terminal turns 100 this year. Its resilience against plans of shutting down makes it one of New York City’s iconic landmarks. It is a place where thousands of commuters cross paths, in the ambiance of an urban ballet, and where most trains come to a stop, bridging large distances in this city center.

Sam Roberts, a New York Times Urban Affairs Correspondent and author of the book “Grand Central: How a Train Station Transformed America,” demonstrates his mastery of Grand Central’s history, describes his early experience with the terminal and expresses his admiration for this “marvel of engineering and transportation.”